Sweden holds the 44Cup's golden wheels going into Marstrand next week
by 44Cup 20 Jun 06:58 PDT
25-29 June 2026
2026 44Cup Puntaldia © Nico Martinez / 44Cup
The 44Cup resumes next week for the third event of the 2026 season, with the fleet of high performance owner-driver one designs making their annual pilgrimage to the paradise island of Marstrand on Sweden's rocky west coast. As usual the event is being supported by Artemis Technologies and Marstrands Segelsällska.
"I always look forward to Marstrand. Hopefully we will get the right conditions - but you never know what you can expect," says Torbjörn Törnqvist, owner of Artemis Racing in anticipation of the event he backs. "For me Marstrand is a special place. I am motivated there as much as anywhere, but it is nice to host everyone and make sure that people have a good time and the sailing is good."
Artemis Racing currently lies sixth on the leaderboard after the season's opening two events in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote and the new to the circuit venue of Puntaldia in Sardinia in April. However going into the 44Cup Marstrand, all eyes will be Artemis Racing's team mate, GeMera Racing, which is currently leading the 2026 44Cup. Nicely coinciding with the Swedish event, their RC44 will have the honour of being fitted with the series' golden wheels (the equivalent of the Tour de France's yellow jersey) when racing gets under way.
GeMera Racing tactician Francesco Bruni commented: "We're super happy to be leading the circuit at the moment and to have the golden wheels going into the Swedish event is something new for us. It will be some responsibility but we will try to not think about it. We will try to sail well like we have done so far. I am very happy with the team. We have made some huge improvements over the last year and we feel very competitive. The competition is great and the level of the teams is very high. It is always so close that every point makes a difference."
After two events the leaderboard remains very close with Hugues Lepic and Pietro Loro Piana's Aleph Racing just a point behind GeMera Racing on six, followed by Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika, John Bassadone's Peninsula Racing (winner of this season's first event in Puerto Calero) and Chris Bake's Team Aqua, all on eight, with Nico Poons' Team Charisma, a past winner in Marstrand, holding sixth place on nine points.
Defending Marstrand champion from 2025 is Team Nika, an event she won enroute to becoming overall winner of last year's 44Cup. Vladimir Prosikhin's team also heads for Sweden as winner of the last event in Puntaldia. Tactician Nic Asher observes: "The first year I did it in 2024, we had an issue with our trim tab. Last year was interesting. It feels like there is always a lot going on. Marstrand is different to the Med - you are up against the elements most of the time. You always get a day that's blown off, you always get some wind, some nasty waves and you can also get some light stuff. So it's tricky."
As to the form this year GeMera racing is on a charge and everyone has got closer still, despite the maturity of the class which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027. Asher continues: "Anyone can win a race. GeMera have been doing well as have Aleph Racing and Peninsula Racing have their moments, so there are more boats in with a shout. I am surprised we won the last event. It never felt like we had a great day. And it is very easy to have a bad day with more and more boats being on the pace. Avoiding those bad days is key."
After a practice day on Wednesday 24 June, racing proper will start on Thursday 25 June culminating in the final day Sunday 29 June with up to three races scheduled each day. Shoreside the highlight of the week will be the traditional party for the entire 44Cup community in Marstrand's famous Society House and all the late night high jinks associated with the week following Sweden's leading mid-summer festivities.
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